# I need to buy a helicopter that can carry a camera **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 24, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161 "2010-10-24T03:03:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/1 "2010-10-24T03:03:04Z")
I need to buy a helicopter that can carry a camera But not a cheap plasticy one like [THIS](http://www.slashgear.com/air-hogs-hawk-eye-rc-chopped-takes-your-webcam-airborne-0296047/). Does anyone have a source? I’m intending to take pictures, in broad daylight, on public land, with the subjects’ consent, prior to shooting. I’m hoping to have images in JPG format, that are 1-3 megs in size. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/2 "2010-10-24T03:18:51Z")
Have you ever flown a radio-controlled helicopter? They’re tricky. If you know how to fly one, or don’t mind learning, you can buy one of these (about ~$500) and attach a small camera to it, triggered by a switch on the radio. Flight times will be short (~5 min) and it will not be very stable, especially in high wind. [http://www.e-fliterc.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=EFLH1400](http://www.e-fliterc.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=EFLH1400) If you don’t know how to fly one, you will need to get something more expensive that is self-stabilizing and easier to fly. This one, for instance, costs about $20,000, but of course has some pretty serious equipment. > **[Draganfly - UAV & Drone Hardware and Software Innovation for 20+ Years](https://draganfly.com)** > > Draganfly Drones Have Been Helping Professionals in Agricultural, Public Safety, Health, and Energy Industries for More than 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/3 "2010-10-24T03:23:05Z")
Thanks, **Absolute**. I have no experience _at all_ with ROV’s; I’m willing to hire someone to operate it. My budget is, maybe, $10,000 or so, to buy one. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/4 "2010-10-24T03:26:30Z")
Ah, okay. Well, it looks like the X4 might do it then, at $8,500 or so: > **[Draganfly - UAV & Drone Hardware and Software Innovation for 20+ Years](https://draganfly.com)** > > Draganfly Drones Have Been Helping Professionals in Agricultural, Public Safety, Health, and Energy Industries for More than 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/5 "2010-10-24T03:28:45Z")
Oh darn. Now I’m going to have to buy a remote control self stabilizing helicopter with remote video streaming functionality. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/6 "2010-10-24T03:29:15Z")
You could hire a real plane, a pilot and a camera man for this kinds of money. 🙂 Seriously – does it need to hover? You can get an RC plane, that will be fairly slow moving, but have a lot more air time. Also, if this is a one-time gig, or just for a few specific things to get pics of, you might look into a local hobbyist club and hire an enthusiast with all the necessary gear. IOW, do you actually need to own the craft? ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/7 "2010-10-24T03:30:59Z")
> [@Todderbob](#): > > Oh darn. > > Now I’m going to have to buy a remote control self stabilizing helicopter with remote video streaming functionality. Fortunately, you can buy one for a lot less than $8,500 if you are willing to give up the industrial-strength features: [http://ardrone.parrot.com/parrot-ar-drone/usa/](http://ardrone.parrot.com/parrot-ar-drone/usa/) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/8 "2010-10-24T03:31:33Z")
> [@chacoguy](#): > > Thanks, **Absolute**. I have no experience _at all_ with ROV’s; I’m willing to hire someone to operate it. My budget is, maybe, $10,000 or so, to buy one. Is this a one-time thing? Because I’d think you could hire a company to take the pictures for far less than that. And an alternative to using a remotely-operated plane or helicopter might be [kite photography](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kite_photography). ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/9 "2010-10-24T03:33:15Z")
Thanks man, that’s an excellent start. I’m kind of asking what the actual State of the Art is. I’m going to have to deal with: Cost, Camera Weight, Flight Time, Maintenance, and Battery Life among others. You’ve given me a very good start, thanks; anybody else have some ideas? Keep them coming ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/10 "2010-10-24T03:35:00Z")
Also, I did a thread a few months ago about one that might work for you, the [Hexacopter](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=554169). ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/11 "2010-10-24T03:35:55Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > Fortunately, you can buy one for a lot less than $8,500 if you are willing to give up the industrial-strength features: > > [http://ardrone.parrot.com/parrot-ar-drone/usa/](http://ardrone.parrot.com/parrot-ar-drone/usa/) Great, now I have to get **two** remote controlled se F stabilizing helicopters. One for play, with my iPad, and one for serious business, like spying on stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/12 "2010-10-24T03:53:59Z")
> [@Todderbob](#): > > Great, now I have to get **two** remote controlled se > F stabilizing helicopters. > > One for play, with my iPad, and one for serious business, like spying on stuff. This thread is getting expensive. We’d better report it or something. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/13 "2010-10-24T03:55:23Z")
Go to the RC forums [Here’s aerial photography](http://www.rcgroups.com/aerial-photography-128/) and both [Electric](http://www.rcgroups.com/aircraft-electric-helis-217/) and [Fuel](http://www.rcgroups.com/aircraft-fuel-helis-39/) helis. I know a guy who did extensive aerial photography and videos from large electric helis in the DC area, and he made large coin doing real estate spreads. He has since moved on to translator in Afghanistan. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/14 "2010-10-24T03:55:33Z")
> [@chacoguy](#): > > Thanks, **Absolute**. I have no experience _at all_ with ROV’s; I’m willing to hire someone to operate it. My budget is, maybe, $10,000 or so, to buy one. Hmmmm…I guess that rules out a U2, or an SR71? Best wishes, hh ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/15 "2010-10-24T04:02:44Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Hmmmm…I guess that rules out a U2, or an SR71? Well, yeah. Neither of those are helicopters. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/16 "2010-10-24T04:20:14Z")
Renting a regular [bucket truck](http://www.nescosales.com/bucket-trucks-48-60-1.htm)will get you 60 feet off the ground and give a stable shooting platform. [Some bucket trucks go up to almost 200 feet.](http://www.nescosales.com/bucket-trucks-81-178-1.htm) ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/17 "2010-10-24T04:23:38Z")
For work we rent real helicopters for about $1,500 an hour. You can sit in them and take all the pictures you want. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/18 "2010-10-24T18:05:40Z")
Thanks for the ideas guys. It’s a great start. To be even more specific, I would be using this every day to hover over a spot on a river. It would need to stay aloft for maybe 15 minutes at a time and do this 6-10 times a day. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/19 "2010-10-24T18:08:17Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > For work we rent real helicopters for about $1,500 an hour. You can sit in them and take all the pictures you want. You can hire a Robinson R22 and a pilot for about $250/hour. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161/20 "2010-10-24T18:17:15Z")
> [@chacoguy](#): > > Thanks for the ideas guys. It’s a great start. To be even more specific, I would be using this every day to hover over a spot on a river. It would need to stay aloft for maybe 15 minutes at a time and do this 6-10 times a day. Can you tell us how long this has to go on? And maybe something about the point of the whole thing? Is there land nearby where you could mount a camera, say up in a tree? Or a bridge trestle - something like that? If this goes on for very long, you’re going to need to factor in equipment replacement, at a fairly frequent rate. Especially with weather, you can’t count on a model helicopter to be able to fly that often and reliably. Also, do you need a really stable picture? Do you need to be able to take some kind of measurements from the images? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-buy-a-helicopter-that-can-carry-a-camera/558161.md?page=2)